That’s a hard word, isn't it? There are certain sins that if a person PRACTICES, God says that they won’t go to heaven. While that does sound like a harsh word, it’s actually the most loving. If you woke up in the middle of the night and looked out your window and saw your neighbor’s house engulfed in flames, what would you do? Would you roll over and go back to sleep or would you leap out of bed, race over to your neighbor’s house, and begin pounding on the door? Today, Pastor Bill reminds us that sin is a house on fire that deserves a holy warning.

The last time you were with us, Pastor Bill began to challenge the status quo of our culture. Culture says that sex before marriage is okay. Culture says that homosexuality is okay. Culture says all sorts of things that are in direct opposition to what God has said. So, what should our response be as followers of Jesus? Today, Pastor Bill reiterates how important it is for the Body of Christ to stand up for what God has said AND to live lives that exude the holiness of God personally.

Whew…it sounds like Pastor Bill was reading the headline from today because this is exactly what has happened. Immorality and challenging what the Bible says to be true is a thread, that when pulled on, eventually unravels the very fabric of our faith. Just because culture says something is okay, doesn’t mean it is. And just because the Church righteously stands up and says SIN is SIN, that doesn’t mean that the Church is unloving. Today, you’ll learn from Pastor Bill just how important it is for the Church to stand up for holiness.

Looking in the rearview mirror causes you to miss what’s coming up ahead.  Today, Pastor Bill touches on how easy it can be to look behind, to look at your sinful lifestyle and behaviors, and almost long for some of that fun, some of that mischief, or getting into things that were “on the edge.”  But instead, you’re encouraged to be grateful for what God’s doing in your life, having cleansed you from sin and heartache, and so you can be excited for the relationship you have with Him going forward!

People might wonder why all the sacrifices in the Old Testament were necessary.  Why all the blood and animal sacrifice?  Pastor Bill paints a picture today that there’s a grander story in it all.  There was a level of brutality, blood, and killing of a Lamb at a later time that would vanquish every person from being guilty of his or her own sin.  All the pictures and types in Leviticus point to the greater sacrifice of Jesus dying for the sins of men.  It was bloody, it was gory, and it was altogether a beautiful depiction of sin conquered.  

There’s a train, and it’s been hijacked so that it’s in a state that’s unable to slow down or stop.  You know where this story is headed.  The train will go off the rails at some point, out of control, causing immense destruction.  Did you realize that your choice to sin has the same effect?  Pastor Bill is teaching today about how when your life gets derailed by sin, God gives you opportunities to get back on track, and for your heart to align with where He wants you to be, so you get to your heavenly destination.

Memory loss.  It’s usually thought of as a negative thing if you can’t remember things from the past.  But as Pastor Bill unfolds the greater story within today’s passage, you start to realize that what you’re hearing about was a symbol and a “type” of something to come at a later time.  Jesus came to remove sin, and He’s not keeping track of all the sins that were done before.  He just wants your heart to follow after Him, forsaking the sin that once held you so tight.  Because of Jesus, your sin is erased.

No social status or impressive appearance makes a difference to God.  You could be the most famous/influential person on social media, but God cares about your heart more than any of that.  Today, Pastor Bill is expressing what matters most to God.  It’s not about how you appear before God with showy clothing, status, or anything else.  He wants to see that your heart is devoted to serving Him, honoring Him, and living for Him.  All the rest is meaningless, and it has no effect on how God perceives you.

Having a healthy fear of something isn’t a bad thing.  You might love the ocean, but you have an awareness of its power and the ferocious nature that it can produce, when weather patterns occur.  Today, Pastor Bill wants you to make sure that you have the proper reverence for God – for His power, for His ferocious nature when sin goes unaddressed.  The God you serve is to be feared, because He hates sin, but He loves when people surrender to Him, and allow Him to intercede and take part in a relationship.

Natural consequences are something you might teach your children while they’re growing up.  If they want to go outside barefoot, then it’s only natural that their feet may come back muddy and potentially scraped or cut.  The example that Pastor Bill gives today has much greater consequences.  People indulge in sinful sexual lifestyles that bring about much more serious results, such as disease, challenges, and difficulties that were brought on in the first place because of sin festering in a person’s life.